Machine for filling the bottoms of shoes.



A. T HOMA.

MACHINE FOR FILLING THE BOTTQMS 0F SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28| 1912.

Pa tentedlay 8,1917.

- gummy UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW THOMA, OF CAMBRIDGE, 1VIASSACHUSE'JITS. ASSIGNOR TO NORTI-I AMERICAN CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MACHINE FOR FILLING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES.

Application filed March 28, 1912.

nying drawings is 'ii specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts. The object of the present invention is to facilitate the handling of shoebottom filler in connection withthe application thereof to the innersole cavity of the shoefbottom of a shoe in the manufacture thereof. While this form of apparatus is adapted to the handling-of practically all the shoe-bottom fillers which .I have patented, it is primarily intended for that kind of bottom filler which is disclosed in-my Patent No. 1,032,312, dated July 9, 1912, in which I provide the filler with a component which is virtually a potential paste held in suspension throughout the filler, ready to turned into actual paste at themoment of use so as to act as a stiflening agent for toughening and thicke-ning the filler mass when actually in the shoe and so as to have the filler in a sleek condition when being applied. For instance the gummy, waxy sticky filler mass of my Patent No. 832,002 (to select this patent merelyas a convenient example of such filler) has (in order to constitute said paste filler) thoroughly mixed through it a potential paste iii-the form of comminuted powder or flour, such as dextrin, starch, gluten, casein, albumen, or the like, which is thoroughly enveloped by the sticky component of the filler so that the grains or particles of the granular stiffener cannot turn into actual paste until subsequently swelled and thickened by suitable means. The most practical means for producing this desired. chemical and physical action and result is heat-and moisture whereby the filler is changed into the desiredmucilagt nous cohesive stifi'ened and thickened condition by reason of said swelling of the stifieniug ingredient in intimately mingled and mutually enveloped and sub-divided relation to the remaining components of the filler mass.

While the machine' is primarily intended for the filler in the state above explained, e. for he full devel pment of the filler Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 191v. Serial NO. 656,977.

from its latent condition above explained, I wish it understood that the machine is advantageous for handling the filler in a fully, developed condition. 'For instance, when the kind of filler of myfirst above mentioned patent'is being used, my present machine will handle the filler admirably when the paste-forming ingredients or stiffener has already been converted into a paste, in which case the steaming and heating of the machine simply serves to soften the mass and keep any portion thereof from drying out, the heat and moisture serving then to produce the most efficient form of fluxing of both components of the filler and maintain the latter in the highly plastic or spreadahly mobile and workable condition dii-irable for the rapid filling of shoe bottoms.'

-/Accordingly, my present machine aims to provide means for permitting such filler to be'us ed continuously and with extreme facility. In its general aspects, it consists of a steaming basin for subjecting the filler to a thorough steaming or cooking sufiicient to complete the formation of the filler by subjecting the pasteanaking ingredients to the. desired swelling and thickening process within the filler mass, and a subjacen't mech anism for producing the proper flood of moisture, preferably in the form of steam, and delivering it within the filler mass in thestcaming basin. My invention also includes means for preventing the escape of any of the filler into the Vaporproducing chamber. Besides these general features. the invention includes a large number of less valuable but important poi ts' di noveltv. All of these features wil be'i more fully understood in thecourse.;of the fol-l lowing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invenbodied in a wide variety of mechanical do vices, I have chosen herein that form which.

is the most simple and inexpensive to make and use and, withal, highly practical. In any case the invention is limited to the art of shoe manufacture and is restricted to the filling of shoe bottom cavities with the type of filler explained in the patents herein mentioned. On suitable legs or standards 1 is suitable fine splashprotector and va or fee 6 capable of transmitting a fioo of vapor but stopping the splashing and hubbling of the water and also serving to render it impossible for any of the filler to escape down into the latter, and for this purpose I 0 have found that a piece of canvas or duck vis the most convenient partition and moisture conveyor, said duck being stretched and clamped in osition by a hoop 7 sprung into wedging re ation with the canvas beneath enough and no more.

lugs 8. A fine wire mesh screen can take the place of the duck, but, as will appear later on, the duck is ca able of performing additional functions 0 considerable practical advantage which a metal vapor-feed cannot. This 'vapor feed 6 and the coopcrating finely perforated bottom 14 above it, serves to automatically regulate the'mo'isture transmitted to the filler in the basin so that an even tempering moisture is delivered within the mass of the filler, t'. 0., just It constitutes means for restricting and controlling the amount of moisture transmitted. It will be understood that, with this peculiar filler, only the right amount of moisture must be delivered. The filler must be brought to just such a condition of plasticity, pastines slipperiness, and sleekness, and if this is exceeded the filler is thereby deteriorated, and if flooded or saturated it is ruined. Accordingly I have devised a construction which will permit just the right amount of moisture to go into the filler, and when that amount of moisture has reached the filler, it automatieally stops. This is because the holes are just right to permit the right amount of moisture to pass through at.the start and then when the pasty condition is developed the holes are more or less closed because of this pasty condition. If the holes were larger, they could not be closed, nor partially closed, but instead, the vapor would continue to rise and would simply wash away the paste from the holesand there would be no self-regulating action. Moreover, the excess of moisture would wash or strip the paste from the' 'cork, thereby completel spoiling the fill.er, andif the holes were 'airly large they would permit the cork particles-then. to fall through the holes.

I f v i stance, which, when set or stiffened to its ultimate condition within the, shoe, is permanently pliable and' .flexible,.g; li ht in weight, cohesive, somewhat "like I eathe'r,

capable' of adhesion to the'bottom of .the inner sole and to the top ofthe outsole within the shoe so as't constitute the connecting. adhesive located inner sole for holdinfithem together. 7 It is so constructed that it is capable of bei'ng rendered freely plastic by the combined heat and moisture of this machine and yet it may be left by the machine in such a way that it will be capable of becoming set to the foregoing leather-like condition of stiffness, tenacity and flexibility, at once upon bein placed in the shoe bottom cavity. If corl i is the body'material of the filler, it is always in a finelyground or granular condition, and the filler is never brittle 'nor hard and friable, but inustalwv ays remain plastic and never become. disintegrated. Bearing the foregoing peculiar conditions in mind, it will be appreciated that ;one 'of the principal features of my invention resides in providing. means which will bring about the proper plastic, slippery and uniform condition of the filler mass, without any liability vof going too far, as the shoe factory requirements make it necessary that the filler shall be kept in this sensitive and critical condi- H tion during the day, while the operator is filling the shoes, i. e. the moisturemust not merely put the filler into this condition, but

ween theoutsole and the it must maintain the filler in this condition,

still nicer regulation, in addition to the automatic regulation above referred to as primarily due to the-perforated bottom 14.- A pet-cock or valve 9 is provided for the purpose of drawing ofi' hot water to sprinkle the filler when a fresh batch has been put in the basin. Above the splash-protector screen or disk or va' or-feed 6'is a steaming basin or filler-'hol er or pot 10, herein shown ass stamped-out sheet metal basin,

relatively deep at its rea r end and shaped so as to fit snugly beneath an overhanging flange 11 of the casting around the forward end or lip portion and rest down upon the peripheral top'edge of the casting through out its entire extent. Preferably suitable clamping devices may be employed for cooperating with said flange, the latter being shownas having notches 12 engaged by thumb screws 13 extending upwardly there-- into from the basin. The bottom of the basin is perforated as indicated at 14 for p the distributed passage of the moisture, and "if desired the entire back portion of the basin may be similarly perforated but not the front part which is so shaped and related to the rest of the machine as to enable the operator to hold a shoe, bottom up, in one hand, with the toe of the shoe pointing or pot indiful offiller on the hot spreader knife from the pot into the shoe bottom and instantly spreads the slimy slippery, smeary filler in Also, 14 to the apparatu'shas beco if desired).'- Let a. be

proper flat lIdlIGSIUD in the shoe bottom. restricting'the area of the small. holes the 'center of the chamber constitutes means to deliver the moisture to the middle or center of the mass of the filler, whence it permeates the entire mass evenly to mains tain the filler properly plastic or send-fluid and sluggishly moldable. As the filler mass area, it is an]- Which -I introduce. directly into the mass of material in the hopper to aid in preparing and keeping it in proper condition for application to the shoe-bottom. The rear portion of the basin is preferably overhung or inclosed by a a cover 15 hinged at 16 and quickly turned back by a handle 17. At one side of the casting I provide a heavy block 18 of metal in the form of a pocket for holdingthespreader knives 19 somewhat after the" manner shown in Patent No. 808,227 of Decembeifillfi, 1905, in which means is provided for heating the same kind of spreader knives or spatulas.

" In use, the proper amount of water being in the tank as shown, steam is turned on from the steam pipe 3 until the water is raised substantially to the boiling point and heated. The'filler mass is then dumped into the basin 10 in loaves (first pulled apart into small ieces a by the operator, if in the loaf form s in. the drawing of my granulated and mealy myPatent 1,032,312) ing'to whatever its condition may be as Patent 832,002) or or otherwise accordprepared or subsequently treated supposed that the which contains a ma s")? ler is of that variety latent starch orJpaste-fcrming com onent. This'forn is'so netimes dry and mea y, and

I in the simceeding 15 retains the heat at the back portion ofthe (if in this form of looks alnmstlike the simple, dryjgranlllated cork. As soon as it is in the basin 10, the vapor at once begins to convert the pasteforming portion of the filler mass around each individual. grain of cork into a fllifl'y soft condition. constituting a delicate film in among the more cork chunks of the filler, thereby developing in a finely disseminated and attenuated condition throughout the filler the element which will subsequently tend to stifi'en and harden the filler, subject to themodifying control of the equally attenuated and subdivided ,g'ummy constituent of the filler, which will serve to prevent the filler from liieooming actually still so ability. The-heat of the vapor also serves to ca] elen'ients of. the filler. This takes'plaoe evenly and continuously in the filler while the operator is dipping it out with his hot spatula or knife-l9 and placing it rapidly shoe-bottoms. The cover basin 10 so 'as to effect thedesired results rapidly and keep the temperature in the filler more even; The canvas diaphragm or as to lose its pliamalgamatc the otherwise opposmg chemi- SpillSh-jillOtfiGtOI and vapor-feed 6 is quickly t d with moisture H wet, and then the intense heat below it of the boiling water servescontiniially to vaporize the moisture thus contained in the was so that the steaming yapor -lfrkun the r vet canvas is continually arislng in a condition that is perfectly even in temperature and. in humidity and in quantity- I have iiound it exceedingly difficult moanout my present process by turning either steam or spray directly into the filler, and accordingly I regard-this provision of the canvas protector and .vapor-feed as an especially advantageous vention. The swelling of the fiberin the cloth makes it impossible for the steam to pass through in a free quantity, so that If a wlre screen, suc i as already mentioned is used, considerable attention is required to regulate the valve 4 to just that nicety which. 7 will permit only the desired amount of moistureto get into the filler, whereas no such special care 15 required when a'trans'mitting device such as the canvas layer 6 is. em-

condition not a cookeror disso that it becomes feature of the inthereby special skill and attention which i would otherwise be required are eliminated.

exceedingly sticky, and

mp b b amount oi moisor granules, but yet just. suflicient to render active the pasty member of the'stifl'ener and putthe finely subdivided and disseminated globules of waxy matter into the proper condition to coalesce somewhat and immediately ramijy each other, so that the moisture serves to flux the filler elements and bring about the proper union or stiff, plasticity or." sluggishly'moldable condition. This is the new result aimed at and'secured by my invention.

Andmy invention, broadly stated, and as intended to be covemd in the broader claims hereinafter contained, consists of providing means" or mechanism, of whatever kind, capable of and adapted to bring about and maintain this result in a continuous and automatic manner in connection with the filler mass within the holding and heating chamber. conceive and produce this result with a shoe bottom filler and the first to embody means for carrying out this conception.

Vhen the filler is first put into the basin 10, it is sometimes desirable, in order to hasten its initial fluxing, to draw off a small quantity of hot water from the cock 9 and sprinkle it-over and mix it into the filler mass, thereby making it practicable to start using the filler almost immediately. While it is possible to bring the filler into the right temper by mechanical manipulation under the conditions mentioned, my machine renders it practically automatic after it has once begun. There is no drying out of the filler by the machine because the moisture keeps all the filler in properly tempered condition, nor is there any introduction of actual water or excess of moisture into the fillerafter the initial mixture-thereof with hot water when starting the apparatus, ,because, first the apparatus is constructed to be practically automaticand self-regulating, and, second, the swelling of the starchy'o'r ;stifi'ening component quickly renders it practically impossible for anexcess of moisture or steam to be incorporated into the filler by-the .entle means provided by my machine. A irther feature of value is that the front portion of the basin is imper forate and theedges of the basin are either clamped or otherwise tightly held against the tank, so that .:-the operator is using the filler from that portion of the basin which cannot deliver any steam and therefore he is not subjected to the inconvenience of having steam come against his hand or into his face. The

process' herein set forth, and originally herein claimed, has been divided, out'from this case. The process is now broadly coverin my Patent No. 4,118,161, dated Nov.

' Having described m y -invention, what i I i cinemas newand desire to secure by Letters Patent ism 315A shoe bottom filling machine, comprising a chamber for holding the filler for use said chamber being constructed and adapted to handle a filler composed of finely granulated cork and a binder, combined with means for the restricted passage of. an even tempering moisture to'and within the filler- 7 amount sufiicient merely for developing and maintaining the stickiness of the filler with-, out washing off or deteriorating the binder portion of the filler with relation to the cork, and said chamber and first mentioned means cooperating to retain the chamber 30 all the filler in a finely moistened and tempered condition for the operator. I'believe that I am the first to 2A shoe bottom fillin machine, comprising a chamber for hol ing the filler for use, said chamber being constructed and '35 adapted to handle a filler composed of finely granulated cork and a binder, combined with means for the restricted passage of 'heat and an even tempering moisture to and within the filler-mass in said chamber, said means containing as a part of its construction means for evening the distribution of p the moisture. and limiting said moisture in accordance with the requirements of the filler to an amount and flow sufiicient merely for developing and maintaining the filler in a homogeneous, sticky, united condition without washing off or deteriorating the binder portion of the filler with relation to; the cork,and said chamber and first-men: tioned means cooperating to retain in the chamber all the filler-in a finely moistened and tempered condition for the operator.

3. A shoe bottom filling machine, comprising a chamber for holding the filler for use, said chamber being con tructed and adapted to handle a filler composed of finely granulated cork enveloped in a binder, having latent capacity for increased stickiness, combined with mechanism for heatin filler and for simultaneously introducing a tempering fluid to and within the filler-mass in said chamber, said mechanism containing as a part of its construction means for evening and distributing said fluid in limited amount to the filler-mass suflicient merely," in connection with the heat, for developing, and quickening the latent-binder so as to maintain the stickiness of the filler without washing oil or deteriorating the binder portion of the filler with relation to the cork, and said chamber and mechanism cdiiperating to. retain all the filler in said finely moistened. and 'temperledsticky condition the chamber readyforthe operator.

- 4. A shoe bottom filler machine, comprise ing a chamber for holding the filler for use and adapted to contain a filler composed of comminuted cork intermingled with a bmder, said chamber having a bottom per- .forated with a restricted area of fine perforations capable of permitting the up.ward passage of vapor wlule preventing the downward escape through the bottom of chamber, and having provision for afiording the vapor direct access to the filler in one part of the receptacle and for excluding said vapor from said direct access to the filler in another part of the rece tacle.

6. A shoe bottom filling mac line, comprising atank having an open upper side,- a filler basin removably mounted therein, and having a bottom for retainim the filler in the basin for use and capable of per- I mitting and restricting the passage of moistributed and restricted ture to the filler, and means within said tank for heating the said filler-to a sluggishly plastic condition and means for restricting and controlling the transmission and delivering an even supply of moisture thereto, to maintain said sluggishly plasticcondition of the filler.

7. A shoe bottom filler machine, comprising a tank having a water chamber, means for heating the water therein, a filler basin above said water chamber, and a distributingand restricting fiphragm between said basin and chamberi-for permitting a disassage of moisture from the latter to the fil er within the basin. .8. A shoe bottom filler machine, com rising a tank ,for hot water, a reoeptac einthe {Upper portion thereof for containing and .iretiiiiging' filler, in a softened, plastic condition for removal from thetop the receptacle, means for glosingin fie t over the holding ortiori' oj he receptacle,- and leaving the rent po' on open with. free access to the filler 'a' means for "at fox-ding access for moistu from the water"- tank to the filler receptacle.

9. A shoe bottom filler machine, com rising a tank for hot water, a reoepta e in the 11 per portion thereof for filler means for c osing inthe heat over the olding' is I ortion of the recepttiilefand leaving the ont' portion open with free access to the filler, means for aflordin access for moisture from the water tan to the filler re-T ceptacle, and means for drawing off hot water from the water tank for starting the filler.

10. A shoe bottom filler machine, prising a tank for hot water, a receptacle:

in the upper portion thereof for filler con-. structed and arranged to hold and retain therein a finely comminuted cork filler in a'soft, lastic, sluggishly' fluid condition, means or affording access for moisture from'the water tank to the filler receptacle,

and means for drawing off hot water from 13. A shoe bottoin filling machine, comprising a: chamber adapted to contain a filler of comminuted cork intermingled with a binder having a latent capacity of increased stickiness, combined 'with mechanism to supply heat and moisture to the filler, constructed and arranged to restrict the delivery to less than a washing or disintegrating amount of moisture, includin means to deliver the same'to the middle 0% the mass of filler, to maintain the filler heated and pro erly plastic, and to develop to a superior egree said latent stickiness,

and means to regulate the steam delivery according to the of the mass, without tendency to wash off or, deteriorate the binder portion of the filler with relation the cork, said chamber and mechanismmiiperating to retain in the chamber all thefiller in a finel moistened and tempered sticky condition or the operator.

y In testimony whereof, I have signed my lfication, in a witn ANDREW THOMA.

Witnesses:

Jams R. Honour,

Enwium Maxwan a the presence- 

